| dc.description.abstract | Background: Currently, smoking causes the deaths of 6 million people worldwide
each year, with approximately 600,000 deaths related to secondhand smoke
exposure (World Health Organization, WHO). Smokers can be categorized into two
groups: active smokers and passive smokers. One molecular biomarker associated
with smoking behavior is an increase in dopamine levels in the bloods. Objective:
This study aims to analyze the difference in dopamine levels in the blood between
active and passive smokers. Methods: This study is a comparative study using a
cross-sectional approach. A questionnaire was used as the initial data for sample
selection. The total sample consisted of 80 respondents, including 40 active smokers
and 40 passive smokers. Blood samples (3 cc) were taken from the participants’
veins. Subsequently, the blood samples were then taken to the laboratory, and the
dopamine levels were measured using the ELISA method. Results: The results
showed that the average dopamine level in active smokers was higher, at
70.48±21.89, compared to that in passive smokers, at 65.98±25.30. However, the
statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in dopamine levels between
active and passive smokers (p=0.140), with a mean difference of 4.5 pg/ml.
Conclusion: Smoking behavior can affect dopamine levels in the blood of both
active and passive smokers. The lack of significant difference suggests that
exposure to cigarette smoke poses a similar risk to both groups. Therefore, public
awareness needs to be raised regarding the health impact of smoking, and smoking
bans in public places, such as Smoke-Free Zones, should be enforced to protect
others from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure. | en_US |
